Skimming through the NY Times this weekend, you came across the following:
NEEDED: One photojournalist to document real life events. Must have knowledge of current affairs, particularly of the Middle East, and willingness to travel. Enthusiasm a plus. Please submit a portfolio of your work to be reviewed.
This is your DREAM job. In order to get it, you are going to need to brush up on current events and update your portfolio. Fortunately, the steps needed to create an outstanding portfolio have been outlined below. This is your chance to prove your abilities and land this job!
FIRST TASK: You need to learn more about the current political and social climate in the Middle East. Because this is such a broad (and daunting) topic, you decide to concentrate on Iran.   
        
          Step 1: Read The Rights of the People, from Iran's Constitution, Articles 19-33.  Is this different or similar to what you expected to read?  In what ways?  Write a one page editorial to share with your classmates.   Due May 3.
       
          Step 2: Read the following articles and learn from your journalist colleagues:
                      Group One: A Kinder View of Uncle Sam
                      Group Two: Web Gives Voice to Iranian Woman
                      Group Three: Violence Against Women                     
                      Group Four: Shorn of Dignity and Equality

You will need to include a one page response paper your article, to be included in your portfolio to prove to the hiring board that you know what you are talking about! Be sure to take note of especially meaningful points or quotes.  Each group will have 15 minutes to present the material from their article to the class.  Presentations will occur in class on May 5 & 6. This will count towards your class participation grade. You will complete peer evaluation forms for your group mates. Presentations will be graded for content, level of performance, and creativity. Make this interesting for your classmates!
SECOND TASK: Your friends at NPR are encouraging you to learn from your colleagues who've been reporting from overseas.  Listen to what a fellow journalist had to say about his experiences in the Middle East by clicking here. Take notes on what he says so you can include imagery or insight from the interview in your portfolio. 
Due May 7.
THIRD TASK: Do you know what Iran looks like?  Are the only images in your mind the ones that you watch on the evening news?  While learning more about Iran, begin collecting images for your portfolio.

          Step 1: Click here to see the streets of Tehran as many residents do
          Step 2: Click here to see photos taken during an uprising in March 2004
          Step 3: Click here to see photos taken during a student demonstration in December 2003
          Step 4: Click here to see pictures taken after an earthquake in December 2003

Do this over the weekend, and begin collecting materials for your portfolios with materials you've used so far. We will discuss these images in class on May 10.
FOURTH TASK: Read the first chapter of Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, by Azar Nafisi by May 11. 

Does reading this chapter help you to interpret this audio clip? Why or why not? How have the preceding steps helped you to gain a deeper understanding of the events occurring within this book? Write your opinions and feelings about this on our class discussion board.
Due May 14.
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